Bernard S. Cohen

Bernard S. Cohen was an American attorney best known for successfully arguing the landmark civil rights case Loving v. Virginia before the Supreme Court of the United States. His work alongside co-counsel Philip J. Hirschkop led to the invalidation of state laws prohibiting interracial marriage across the nation. A dedicated civil rights advocate, Cohen spent much of his career in public service in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Early life and education

Bernard S. Cohen was born in 1934 in New York City. He attended the City College of New York, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. He then pursued his legal education at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree. His early professional years were spent working for the United States Department of Justice before he entered private practice.

Legal career

After law school, Cohen began his career as a trial attorney with the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice. He later moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where he established a private practice focusing on criminal defense and civil litigation. In 1963, he was approached by the American Civil Liberties Union to represent Richard Loving and Mildred Loving, a married couple who had been arrested under Virginia's Racial Integrity Act of 1924. Cohen, recognizing the case's profound constitutional implications, agreed to take it pro bono.

Civil rights advocacy

Cohen's most significant contribution to civil rights was his role in Loving v. Virginia. He partnered with attorney Philip J. Hirschkop, and together they filed suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. After an initial loss, they appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1967, Cohen presented oral arguments, famously telling the Warren Court that the law relegated the Lovings to "slavery." The unanimous decision in Loving v. Virginia struck down all remaining state anti-miscegenation laws in the United States. Beyond this case, Cohen served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1980 to 1982, representing parts of Fairfax County.

Later life and death

Following the historic victory, Cohen continued his legal practice in Alexandria, Virginia. He remained active in Democratic Party politics and local civic affairs. In his later years, he frequently lectured on the Loving v. Virginia case and its enduring legacy. Bernard S. Cohen died on December 12, 2021, at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. He was survived by his wife, Gertrude Cohen, and their two children.

Legacy

Cohen's work on Loving v. Virginia is considered a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement and a pivotal precedent for later rulings on marriage equality, including Obergefell v. Hodges. The case has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and the feature film Loving. For his contributions, Cohen received accolades from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. His papers are held in collections related to legal history and civil rights.

Category:American lawyers Category:American civil rights activists Category:1934 births Category:2021 deaths Category:People from New York City Category:Georgetown University Law Center alumni Category:City College of New York alumni